Containment needs depend on variety of factors including product activity, quantity handled, process involved, available areas, working procedures. The relevant equipments are adopted to protect product or the operator/environment from a contamination.
Two different approaches are generally adopted:

• Product protection requires to contain the external environment out of the working areas
• Operator/environment from the hazard given by a certain substance or operation

• Clean rooms are the typical solution when the product needs to be protected and where a minimum environmental protection has to be considered. Widely used in pharmaceutical and electronic industries, it is more and more requested for fine chemical, food and cosmetic applications to improve product quality.
• Local extraction arms are considered where operator/working environment need to be protected from dust clouds generated when handling products.
• Pack-off units, with inflatable seals, for product discharge from cyclone, driers, centrifuges, etc.
• Laminar flow booths are the simple and cost effective solution when a limited area needs to be protected; down-cross design can provide product, operator and environment protection.
• Isolators are the top protection level; sterile and/or HAPI process may be confined in a limited area, assuring protection level down to 0,1 µg/m3.